Hundreds celebrate new bishop at reception

ALBANY >> The foyer of the Kitty Carlisle Hart Theatre at Empire State Plaza filled quickly Thursday afternoon upon the conclusion of the installation of Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger as the new bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

Hundreds made the short walk from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception through the plaza’s concourse to tables filled with pulled pork, marinated mushrooms, stuffed cauliflower, calamari, cheese boards, cold cuts, baked deserts and hot coffee.

The buffet satisfied the most ravenous hunger after the nearly three-hour-long installation service earlier in the day. It was a time for dedicated Catholics who attended the installation service along with others to commiserate about the arrival of a new bishop.

Two of those at the reception with a good grasp on just how momentous an occasion it is were former Albany Assemblyman Jack McEneny and the Rev. Michael Farano.

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McEneny sees the change as a milestone in the life of the diocese and the region that makes up that diocese. Though Albany is an old city and the diocese encompasses 14 counties it has only had 10 bishops in its history.

“I think you’re watching the formal end of the ecclesiastical administration who have never known a different bishop,” McEneny said. “Bishop Hubbard was here 37 years and as his tenure neared its end he made the hard decision that a new bishop, and especially one from down state, would have had a hard time making.”

McEneny was referring to Hubbard’s final years where he closed parochial schools and churches due to shifting demographics.

“A lesser person would have let it ride,” he said. “He had a sense of duty. It shows courage to do the right things. Anyone can make the easy decisions. By doing this he allowed the new bishop to embrace his pastoral role without being overwhelmed with all the administrative things.”

Farano was the head of the service’s coordinating committee. He helped put the entire event together. He also views the change from Hubbard to Bishop Scharfenberger as historic for the diocese.

“The significance is important,” he said “It represents the continuity of change. The chief teacher of that faith is the bishop, and the bishop represents Christ. The installation shows the ongoing life of Christ.”

Farano referred to the homily given during the service by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. In his homily, Dolan reminded the guests to not be absorbed by the traditions of the service or its pomp.

“It’s about Christ, not the hoopla, just like the Cardinal said earlier,” Farano said. “The pope is the unifying force of the church. On the diocesan level the bishop does that with the churches in the diocese. An occasion like this signifies the unifying factor. Bishop Hubbard did this too. His actions kept us thinking, why do we exist.”

The answer, Farano believes is to work for justice and look out for the poor.

“Both of those must be fueled by prayer,” he said. “The concept of justice comes from God. He is wholly just. And from prayer, we take action.”

Two younger guests of the service stood in the concourse directing their elders to the reception — Sara Niro, a 17-year-old senior at Catholic High School in Troy, and Greg Culligan, an 18-year-old senior at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbon in Schenectady. They both saw the event as exciting and momentous.

“Change is always good,” Niro said. “I think it’ll be good for everyone.

Culligan felt the same.

“I’m for change, too,” he said. “Being for change doesn’t mean something is bad. I just see change as a good thing. “

The man at the center of it all arrived at the reception late with a big smile on his face. The youngish looking Scharfenberger, 65, greeted families and friends from his former church in Brooklyn with back slaps and handshakes.

“This all took me by surprise. “I was very happy in my role as a pastor in Brooklyn. At my age I thought I’d keep doing what I was doing. But I love it here. The people have been great. The air is great too. I have a problem trusting air I can’t see.”